The Big Magnesium MISTAKE 50%+ People Are Making

Summary

Magnesium plays a crucial role in various bodily functions, yet many people are unaware of its importance. While blood levels may appear normal, 99% of magnesium is stored in cells, not the bloodstream. Magnesium deficiency can lead to muscle spasms, anxiety, sleep issues, and more. Diets high in refined foods, alcohol, and medications deplete magnesium, and common supplements like magnesium oxide are poorly absorbed. To address deficiencies, magnesium glycinate is recommended. The video also explains magnesium's role in heart health, muscle function, blood sugar regulation, and energy production, emphasizing the importance of magnesium alongside vitamin D and B1.

Takeaways

• 😀 Only 1% of your body's magnesium is in the blood; the rest is stored in your cells and bones.
• 😀 Blood tests for magnesium levels can be misleading, as the body prioritizes blood levels over other areas when deficient.
• 😀 Symptoms like muscle spasms, twitching, anxiety, poor sleep, and sugar cravings are common signs of magnesium deficiency.
• 😀 A typical diet requires about 400 mg of magnesium daily, which is hard to obtain from food alone, such as consuming 5 cups of almonds or 5 handfuls of spinach.
• 😀 Foods like chocolate contain magnesium, but you'd still need about four bars to meet the daily requirement.
• 😀 Gut inflammation, refined foods, alcohol, caffeine, and medications can hinder magnesium absorption.
• 😀 Magnesium oxide, a common supplement, has poor absorption, while magnesium glycinate is recommended due to its higher absorption and lack of laxative effects.
• 😀 Magnesium regulates calcium, preventing excessive accumulation in cells and avoiding issues like calcification and kidney stones.
• 😀 Magnesium helps relax muscles and prevents issues like muscle tightness and heart rhythm problems.
• 😀 Magnesium plays a critical role in preventing heart attacks and correcting arrhythmias, but high deficiencies may require significantly higher doses over months.
• 😀 Magnesium is essential for energy production and mood regulation, including helping with conditions like diabetes, fatigue, and stress reduction.

Q & A

Why is blood magnesium not an accurate indicator of magnesium deficiency?

Blood magnesium levels only reflect 1% of the body's total magnesium, and when the body is deficient, it pulls magnesium from bones and muscles to maintain blood levels. This gives a false impression that magnesium levels are normal.

What are some common symptoms that indicate magnesium deficiency?

Muscle spasms, muscle twitches (especially under the eyelid), anxiety, poor sleep, sugar cravings, and charley horses are all signs of magnesium deficiency.

How much magnesium do you need daily and how can you get it from food?

The recommended daily intake of magnesium is around 400 milligrams. Foods like almonds and spinach are high in magnesium, but you would need to consume large quantities—about five cups of almonds or five big handfuls of spinach—to meet the daily requirement.

Is chocolate a good source of magnesium?

Chocolate does contain magnesium, but you would still need to consume about four bars of chocolate to get the daily required amount of magnesium.

What factors reduce magnesium absorption from food?

Inflammation in the gut, grains, refined foods like sugar and starches, alcohol, caffeine, and many medications can all reduce magnesium absorption by up to 60-70%.

What is the best form of magnesium supplement to take?

Magnesium glycinate is recommended because it is well-absorbed (80%) without causing a laxative effect, and it helps with sleep.

How does magnesium regulate calcium in the body?

Magnesium plays a critical role in regulating calcium levels. Too much calcium inside the cells can damage the cell and lead to calcification, which magnesium helps prevent.

How can magnesium help prevent kidney stones?

Magnesium binds to oxalates 100 times more effectively than calcium, reducing the formation of kidney stones.

What is the relationship between magnesium and muscle function?

Calcium causes muscles to contract, while magnesium helps muscles relax. A deficiency in magnesium can lead to muscle tension and tightness.

How does magnesium affect heart health?

Magnesium helps prevent heart attacks and maintains a healthy heart rhythm. It can also help correct conditions like atrial fibrillation over time with higher doses.

What are the three secrets related to magnesium that were mentioned?

The three secrets are: 1) Hard water used to be a source of magnesium, but modern water softeners remove it. 2) Vitamin D cannot function properly without magnesium. 3) Magnesium plays a vital role in ATP production within the cells, which directly affects energy levels and reduces fatigue.